Anthropological Field Trip

Part 1: Georgia Guidestones

Hopefully, you've read the previous post describing the monument I set out to find this past June 21st. It was the Summer Solstice, and personally, I think it should be a national holiday. I mean, come on, it's the longest day of the year. It should be celebrated. Anyway, I set out to visit the Guidestones in Elberton, Ga. I thought, since it was the solstice, some new agers or fringe occultists would be conducting some sort of nature based religious ceremony. I arrived just after noon, and of course, there was no one there. No chanters, no meditators, just me, my digital camera, and anthropological aspirations. I had brought a digital recorder as well. I had planned to interview some of the participants. I was a little let down. After all, this was the Solstice, man. Any pagan worth a damn should have been doing something that day. I was suprised no one was there. The entire visit was anti-climactic, actually. I mean, the Guidestones are a fascinating monument, but the astronomical alignment I had read about just seems to be well placed holes. I think the "alignment" of the Guidestones could be replicated almost anywhere, in any structure.

Also, the message on the stones is a bit self evident. I seems that the authors think that if the world ends soon, future generations will be absent of common sense. I mean, the governmental principles of the Guidestones have been practiced for thousands of years. And I am a bit troubled by the population guidelines. What kind of social rules would be established to limit the human population to 500,000? They would infringe on your personal freedoms, at best. At worst, well, let your imagination run wild.

On a more positive note, it's incredible to think that these stones will remain in their postions for thousands of years to come. No matter what the future holds, this monument will remain to greet all visitors. Though I disagree with some of the guidelines, the perspective presented is no less valid than any of my ideas about the future. It is a positive statement for no other reason than it has been spoken, and it will be around long after the authors have perished. If you are in north Georgia, near Athens and the South Carolina line, take a detour over to Elberton, and check out America's Stonehenge. It is pretty interesting to see, and who knows, you may be hit with an epiphany while marveling at the granite monument.

Part 2: The Cherokee Center of the World

While touring Elberton, I discovered that the ceremonial center for the Cherokee Nation was near by. I was not expecting to visit two sites in one day, but since I was in the neighborhood, I decided to find it. It took quite a while, even though it was only about 25 miles from the Guidestones. My anticipation built as I persevered through several wrong turns and miles of backtracking. And when I finally found the site, I was completely disheartened. I had wanted to find an open field with rolling hills; a place I could walk through, meditating upon the culture of the Cherokee and pondering the lives of my ancestors. Maybe I would even stumble upon an artifact to analyze back in the archeology lab at GSU. I should have expected what I found:

An awfully named textile company and massive site destruction

Despite the disappiontments of my excursion. I was encouraged by the fact that I had finally gone out to see the Guidestones, and I had persistented until I found the Cherokee Center of the World. These are lasting monuments to our future and our past. There remains much to be learned from previous cultures and the prospects of our future. We would do well to take them all into consideration as we go forward. While thinking of these positive aspects, I passed a sign that poignantly reminded me that I still have most of my life ahead of me, and I should get off my ass to make sure that I leave some kind of lasting mark on this world.